—Synteract, a full-service, global contract research organization (CRO) based in San Diego, named Wendel Barr as CEO. Barr succeeds Synteract Co-Founder Ellen Morgan, who remains as board chairman. Barr previously was the chief operating officer at Covance, the largest public CRO with $2 billion of revenue. Barr led six global divisions with more than 10,500 employees at Covance, and oversaw all aspects of their operations.

—After securing FDA clearance in May, San Diego’s Optimer Pharmaceuticals said it has begun selling its first commercial product, a prescription antibiotic for treating a form of diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria. Optimer says its compound, fidaxomicin (DIFICID), was more effective in treating the potentially deadly intestinal infection than existing antibiotics.